The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Irving, Texas
Textron Cessna; Wichita, KS
Location: Tatum, TX
Accident Number: CEN21FA195
Date & Time: April 19, 2021, 13:46 Local
Registration: N801EC
Aircraft: Cessna 340A
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Flight test
On April 19, 2021, about 1346 central daylight time, a Cessna 340A airplane, N801EC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Tatum, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight test.
According to information provided by a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at the East Texas Regional Airport (GGG), the intention of the flight was to do a functional test of a newly upgraded autopilot system. Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane took off from runway 13 at GGG about 1340. According to preliminary Air Traffic Control (ATC) information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the controller cleared the pilot to operate under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to the east of the airport and to remain in class C airspace. Communications between ground control, tower control, and the pilot were normal during the ground taxi, takeoff, and climb-out. Six minutes after takeoff, radio and radar communications were lost and controllers initiated
ALNOT procedures. There were no radio distress calls heard from the pilot.
After takeoff, ADS-B data showed the airplane in a steady climb to the east of GGG. The airplane climbed to an altitude of 2,750 ft mean sea level (msl) and then descended to 2,675 ft msl. There were no other data points recorded. The accident site was located directly east, about ¾ mile from the last recorded data point. Groundspeeds and headings were consistent throughout the climb, with no abrupt deviations. See Figures 1 and 2.
There were no eyewitnesses to the accident; however, a local resident located about 1 mile from the accident site reported that he was inside his residence when he heard and felt a “boom” that shook the windows. He immediately saw black smoke rise, found the wreckage, and called 911.
The accident site was located at an elevation of 361 ft msl. The airplane impacted the vegetated terrain in a nose-down, vertical flight attitude. The fuselage and cabin were embedded into the ground and were mostly consumed from a post-impact fire. The empennage was folded forward over the cabin area. Both left and right wings showed leading edge crushing along their respective spans. Portions of both wings were fire damaged. Both left and right engine nacelles were separated from the wings and the engine and propeller assemblies were embedded in 3-foot-deep craters.
The airplane wreckage was transported to a secure facility for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N801EC
Model/Series: 340A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KGGG,373 ft msl
Observation Time: 13:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C /3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 310°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Longview, TX (GGG)
Destination: Tatum, TX
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 32.35375,-94.54105
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
Captain William James Weatherspoon
March 5, 1947 - April 19, 2021
Captain William James Weatherspoon was born March 5, 1947 in Fulton, Kentucky to James Lowell and Sara Shaw Weatherspoon.
In 1950, the family moved to Lone Oak, KY where he attended all 12 years of school with many lifelong friends.
After graduating, he spent a year at the US Naval Academy before joining the US Naval Reserve and returning to Lone Oak to begin working at Ohio Valley Aviation gassing airplanes, taking flying lessons, and accruing flying time.
He next attended Purdue University to earn a degree in Aeronautical Engineering through their Aviation Department.
He was forever indebted to Professor Charles Holleman for arranging an interview for him with American Airlines.
He was hired in 1973 and retired in 2007 after having flown the MD-80, Boeing 727, 757, 767, and 777.
In 1977 he married Katherine Good, a TWA flight attendant, and they celebrated 44 years together April 11th.
They had two children, and he threw himself into being a soccer coach, swim official, camping/hiking/horseback riding dad.
After retirement, he flew for Stebbins Aviation in Longview, TX and enjoyed getting back into General Aviation where he had gotten his start.
On April 19, 2021 he took his Cessna 340A on a maintenance flight and never returned.
He is survived by his wife, brother and sister-in-law Ken and Liz Weatherspoon, children Madeline and Audrey Weatherspoon, and special friends for life Terry and Carolyn Massa.
RUSK COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) - The Federal Aviation Administration has released its preliminary report revealing details behind a plane crash on April 19 between Tatum and Easton on County Road 2194.
The pilot, identified as Capt. William James Weatherspoon, died when his plane crashed in Rusk County. According to the FAA report, Weatherspoon was in his Cessna 340A and was testing out a newly upgraded autopilot system.
Weatherspoon had been a pilot for American Airlines from 1973 until his retirement in 2007. Afterward, he got back into general aviation, working at Stebbins Aviation in Longview, according to his obituary.
The report says his Cessna took off from runway 13 at East Texas Regional Airport in Longview at about 1:40 p.m. on April 19. According to preliminary air traffic control information provided by the FAA, the air traffic controller cleared Weatherspoon to operate under visual flight rules to the east of the airport and to remain in class C airspace.
Communications between ground control, tower control, and the pilot were normal during the ground taxi, takeoff, and climb-out, the report says. Six minutes after takeoff, radio and radar communications were lost and controllers initiated ALNOT (alert notice) procedures. There were no radio distress calls heard from the pilot, the report adds.
There were no eyewitnesses to the accident; however, the FAA says a resident located about one mile from the accident site reported that he was inside his home when he heard and felt a “boom” that shook the windows. He immediately saw black smoke rise, found the wreckage, and called 911.
The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-down, vertical flight attitude. The fuselage and cabin were embedded into the ground and were mostly consumed from a post-impact fire. The tail unit was folded forward over the cabin area. Both left and right wings showed leading edge crushing along their respective spans. Portions of both wings were fire damaged, the report says.
Both left and right engine nacelles were separated from the wings and the engine and propeller assemblies were embedded in 3-foot-deep craters. The airplane wreckage was transported to a secure facility for further examination, the FAA says.
A post on the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office page said that the RCSO communications center received a 911 call about the plane crash at about 4:22 p.m. April 19.
https://www.kltv.com/2021/04/29/faa-report-reveals-cause-fatal-rusk-county-plane-crash/
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